Protesters to take down all but one central teepee
Campers vow to continue working to shed light on Indigenous issues
All but one of the teepees at the Justice for our Stolen Children camp are set to come down by sundown Tuesday, after a Mondayevening discussion between leading protesters.
But the protesters made no such commitment for the central teepee that has long stood at the site across from the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, saying only that “logically” it will be “the last one to go down.”
They did not confirm or deny whether a core group of supporters will be remaining at the site.
Camp spokeswoman Robyn Pitawanakwat announced there will be a celebration of the camp after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, with all supporters invited to take part.
The protesters issued the statement after a meeting that ended at 6:30 p.m. Monday, bringing together leaders like Prescott Demas, Richelle Dubois and Pitawanakwat.
“I think there’s a strong sense of unity in the camp,” Pitawanakwat said. “The reason why we’re taking so long to make these decisions is because we’re making sure we’re all on board.”
The decision comes three days after Justice Ysanne Wilkinson issued a ruling ordering the protesters to vacate the patch of land in Wascana Centre they first occupied 195 days ago.
Camp spokesman Prescott Demas signalled that their work will continue in some form. The protesters have aimed to bring light to issues like the disproportionate number of Indigenous children in foster care and perceived inequality in the criminal justice system.
Some teepees have already left the site, which hosted 15 at its height. Now there are only 10, with teepee poles laying out on the ground for much of Monday.
Longtime camper Dubois said two of the teepees were already scheduled to leave the camp and go up at Treaty Four celebrations at Fort Qu’appelle. She denied that any had left specifically in response to the court order.
Chief Cadmus Delorme of Cowessess First Nation attended just in advance of the evening meeting. He said he came to listen and learn about the strategy going forward.
Earlier in the day, supporters of the camp helped pack away food containers and roll up tarps that once covered common areas.
The changes left many disheartened in the wake of Wilkinson’s decision.
“I’m sad to see it go. It’s been a cultural experience,” said Del Crow.
Crow said he’s been hanging around the camp since it was reestablished on June 21, days after police arrested six protesters who resisted efforts to take down the central teepee. The Provincial Capital Commission had issued eviction notices saying the camp was in violation of bylaws against structures, fires or overnight camping in the park.
He said he felt a personal connection to many of the issues the protesters advocated, particularly over children taken through the child welfare system. He said he discovered only a few years ago that he had two sisters who were adopted out.
He agreed with Demas that the work of the camp would no doubt continue.
“We’re prepared for any eventuality,” he said.